Particle size distribution surface techniques

Mean particle size, particle size distribution, surface area and oil absorption are all indicators, directly or indirectly, of particle size. For coarse fillers, particle size measurements are easily performed, while for fillers with mean particle sizes below 0.1 pm, size may be measured by microscopy (very time consuming) or by indirect measurement techniques such as surface area (BET), iodine absorption, oil absorption, etc. 

Among aU these various polymerization processes, one major advantage of emulsion polymerization techniques is that according to the selected recipe, it is really possible to carefully adjust both macromolecular and colloidal properties of the obtained latexes, which is quite versatile in view of the variety of applications. For specialty ones, the control of particle size, particle size distribution, surface morphology, surface chemistry and functionality etc. is indeed of paramount importance. In that purpose, emulsion polymerization has long been proved to be appropriate in the synthesis of functional latex particles (Arshady, 1999 Kawaguchi etaL, 2003). 

Rowell and co-workers [62-64] have developed an electrophoretic fingerprint to uniquely characterize the properties of charged colloidal particles. They present contour diagrams of the electrophoretic mobility as a function of the suspension pH and specific conductance, pX. These fingerprints illustrate anomalies and specific characteristics of the charged colloidal surface. A more sophisticated electroacoustic measurement provides the particle size distribution and potential in a polydisperse suspension. Not limited to dilute suspensions, in this experiment, one characterizes the sonic waves generated by the motion of particles in an alternating electric field. O Brien and co-workers have an excellent review of this technique [65]. 

The most commonly measured pigment properties ate elemental analysis, impurity content, crystal stmcture, particle size and shape, particle size distribution, density, and surface area. These parameters are measured so that pigments producers can better control production, and set up meaningful physical and chemical pigments specifications. Measurements of these properties ate not specific only to pigments. The techniques appHed are commonly used to characterize powders and soHd materials and the measutiag methods have been standardized ia various iadustries. 

Several properties of the filler are important to the compounder (279). Properties that are frequentiy reported by fumed sihca manufacturers include the acidity of the filler, nitrogen adsorption, oil absorption, and particle size distribution (280,281). The adsorption techniques provide a measure of the surface area of the filler, whereas oil absorption is an indication of the stmcture of the filler (282). Measurement of the sdanol concentration is critical, and some techniques that are commonly used in the industry to estimate this parameter are the methyl red absorption and methanol wettabihty (273,274,277) tests. Other techniques include various spectroscopies, such as diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (drift), inverse gas chromatography (igc), photoacoustic ir, nmr, Raman, and surface forces apparatus (277,283—290). 

New templated polymer support materials have been developed for use as re versed-phase packing materials. Pore size and particle size have not usually been precisely controlled by conventional suspension polymerization. A templated polymerization is used to obtain controllable pore size and particle-size distribution. In this technique, hydrophilic monomers and divinylbenzene are formulated and filled into pores in templated silica material, at room temperature. After polymerization, the templated silica material is removed by base hydrolysis. The surface of the polymer may be modified in various ways to obtain the desired functionality. The particles are useful in chromatography, adsorption, and ion exchange and as polymeric supports of catalysts (39,40). 

A procedure for proplnts is presented by J.W. French (Ref 27), who used both OM and EM (electron microscope) to study plastisol NC curing. He found that the cure time of plastisol NC is a logarithmic function of temp, and direct functions of chemical compn and total available surface area, as well as of particle size distribution. It should be noted that extensive use of statistics is required as a time-saving means of interpreting particle size distribution data. The current state-of-the-art utilizes computer techniques to perform this function, and in addition, to obtain crystal morphology data (Ref 62)... 

EM techniques provide important information in the characterization of the dispersion of metallic catalysts. Surface areas of catalysts are measured by the standard BET method described previously. An isotherm is produced using nitrogen as the adsorbate chemisorption of certain gases (e.g. H2 or CO) is also used, including for particle size distributions. We give some examples in chapter 5. 

The methods just discussed are only two of a wide variety of techniques that provide essentially the same kinds of information. In general, any measurement that gives (a) the amount of suspended material a fixed distance below the surface at various times or (b) the amount of material at various depths at any one time can be interpreted in terms of particle size distribution. Pressure, density, and absorbance are additional measurements that have been analyzed this way. 

Sorption coefficients quantitatively describe the extent to which an organic chemical is distributed at equilibrium between an environmental solid (i.e., soil, sediment, suspended sediment, wastewater solids) and the aqueous phase it is in contact with. Sorption coefficients depend on (1) the variety of interactions occurring between the solute and the solid and aqueous phases and (2) the effects of environmental and/or experimental variables such as organic matter quantity and type, clay mineral content and type, clay to organic matter ratio, particle size distribution and surface area of the sorbent, pH, ionic strength, suspended particulates or colloidal material, temperature, dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration, solute and solid concentrations, and phase separation technique. 

In essence, the test battery should include XRPD to characterize crystallinity of excipients, moisture analysis to confirm crystallinity and hydration state of excipients, bulk density to ensure reproducibility in the blending process, and particle size distribution to ensure consistent mixing and compaction of powder blends. Often three-point PSD limits are needed for excipients. Also, morphic forms of excipients should be clearly specified and controlled as changes may impact powder flow and compactibility of blends. XRPD, DSC, SEM, and FTIR spectroscopy techniques may often be applied to characterize and control polymorphic and hydrate composition critical to the function of the excipients. Additionally, moisture sorption studies, Raman mapping, surface area analysis, particle size analysis, and KF analysis may show whether excipients possess the desired polymorphic state and whether significant amounts of amorphous components are present. Together, these studies will ensure lotto-lot consistency in the physical properties that assure flow, compaction, minimal segregation, and compunction ability of excipients used in low-dose formulations. 

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